SUMMARY: A total of 10 skulls of Tibetan gazelle were utilized in this study. Craniometric measurements for 22 different parts of the skull were made. Skull indices and ratios were calculated. A skull index of 43.22±0.44, a cranial index of 58.37±0.80 and a facial index of 116.37±1.24 were obtained.

Procapra picticaudata Hodgson, 1846, a unique endangered wild animal, is considered endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and commonly called the Tibetan gazelle. It belongs to Order Artiodactyle, suborder Ruminantia, Family Bovidae, Subfamily Antilopinae. The poaching of this typical hoofed mammal is very serious and its number declines drastically, so it is listed as a threatened Class II species in China and considered ''Near Threatened'' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Leslie, 2010).

The knowledge of the morphometric measurements of skull is of great importance for surgical interference of collection of pathological conditions. The morphometric study of the domestic animal skull has been documented (Sarma, 2006; Özcan et al., 2010), but the literature of craniometrical characteristics of Procapra Picticaudata is few. Groves (1967) had described the morphology of the genus Procapra Hodgson of different areas and measured a few skulls of the Procapra. The study was undertaken to establish a baseline data on the morphometric measurements of the skull of Tibetan gazelle.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A total of 10 skulls of Tibetan Gazelle were utilized in this study. These heads were obtained from the poachers, so their ages were unknown. As female Tibetan gazelle bears no horns, the sex of the specimens is easy to distinguish to be male. The skulls were macerated in accordance with the method described by Simoens et al. (1994) and Onar (1999). 22 different craniometrical parameters were recorded with the help of measuring scale, thread and digital vernier calipers. These measurements were obtained by using the methods described by Onar and Onar et al. (2001). The cephalic indices and ratios were calculated as described by Brehm et al. (1985) and Onar. All investigated parameters are expressed as mean±SD.

It was observed that the Tibetan gazelle had a small head, with S-shaped horns. A skull length of 19.60 ± 0.23 cm and a maximum zygomatic width of 8.47 ± 0.12 cm were obtained. Procapra includes three extant species: P. gutturosa, P. picticaudata, and P. przewalskii. The skulls of Tibetan gazelle were smaller than those of the other two members of the genus (Groves). Vladimir & Anna (1997) argued that the horns of male Tibetan gazelle is longer than 250 mm and procapra przewalskii is shorter than 250 mm, but the measurement we got from the specimen is 24.60±0.14 cm. So the 250 mm may not be the discrimination of them.

Craniometric measurements of the skulls were evaluated. The investigated features are presented as the mean±SD in Table I. The indices and ratios of the adult Procapra gutturosa were calculated by using the investigated features. A skull index of 43.22±0.44, a cranial index of 58.37±0.80 and a facial index of 116.37±1.24 were obtained. According to Onar, the values were very close to index data of the dolichocephalic breeds.

The vertical distances from the facial tuberosity to the infraorbital canal and from the infraorbital canal to the root of the alveolar tooth were 3.21 ± 0.12 cm and 2.45 ± 0.09 cm respectively. The data obtained in this study are of great significance in the clinical treatments of diseases and make clear the classification of procapra (Olopade & Onwuka, 2005).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The study received financial support from Scientific Research Foundation of Qujing Normal University (2009ZD005).